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“It’s been a while, Wright.”

“You’ve all grown so much. Please come in. The Clan Head is waiting for you.”

Guided by the butler who came to greet them, Taylor and his group entered the main hall.

Kazen was already seated at the head of the table, waiting for them.

Taylor knelt down on one knee in a respectful manner and said,

“Taylor Samael. I have completed my training at the Magic Tower, entered the 3rd-level Demon Realm, achieved my goals, and returned.”

Blair and Arin followed suit.

“Blair Raphel. I have completed my training at the Magic Tower, entered the 3rd-level Demon Realm, achieved my objectives, and returned.”

“Arin. I have completed my training and returned.”

Kazen nodded with a pleased expression.

“Welcome back. You’ve all worked hard.”

“Thank you.”

“I was worried when I heard you entered the Demon Realm, but I’m glad you returned safely without any injuries.”

“Ah.”

Taylor involuntarily relaxed and let out a sigh of relief.

That tone, and that look in his eyes.

It was exactly as Taylor remembered.

Kazen’s words, expressing concern for their well-being, melted Taylor’s tension like warm water poured on ice.

“…Thanks to your concern, we were able to complete our training safely.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The fact that Kazen didn’t specifically mention the Demon Realm was clearly out of consideration for them.

But Taylor knew.

He knew that Kazen was inwardly overjoyed, even if he didn’t show it.

Entering the 3rd-level Demon Realm and returning alive was significant in itself, especially for Samael.

Taylor looked up at Kazen and tilted his head slightly. He felt that Kazen’s physique had grown a bit larger.

“But why have only three of you returned? I don’t see one person.”

Taylor, lost in thought, suddenly remembered something he had forgotten for a moment.

“Did Layla not return?”

“No.”

A look of puzzlement appeared in Kazen’s eyes.

“Then?”

“Layla…”

As Taylor hesitated, Arin spoke first.

“She’s leaving Samael.”

Kazen asked again, as if he had misheard.

“What?”

“She’s leaving the clan. She’s joining Urgon.”

Taylor straightened his posture and spoke,

“I apologize, patriarch. Layla received help from Urgon a few times in the Demon Realm, and it seems her feelings have changed because of that.”

Taylor spoke calmly but couldn’t bring himself to meet Kazen’s eyes.

‘A disciple of Samael joining Urgon.’

He knew how deeply those words would wound the Clan Head’s heart.

“…”

As Kazen remained silent,

a knock echoed through the main hall’s entrance.

“It’s Wright, Patriarch.”

There were times when an ominous feeling arose for no reason, and this was one of those times.

Everyone present sensed that something was about to happen.

“Layla has also returned. Ah, and…”

“That’s enough. Let them in.”

A woman in a blue martial uniform entered, followed by a middle-aged man in the same attire, who stood at attention behind her.

Layla walked towards the head of the table without hesitation and stopped one step ahead of Taylor.

She didn’t kneel or show any formal courtesy. She merely bowed her head slightly as a greeting.

Kazen looked at Layla and spoke with an indifferent expression.

“It’s been a while. I heard you’ve been through a lot. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Layla gave a cynical smile and went straight to the point.

“Have you been well, Clan Head? You’ve probably heard the news. I’m here to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?”

Only then did Layla bow deeply, showing proper respect.

“I express my gratitude for raising me. I will be leaving Samael.”

Kazen looked at Layla for a moment and then shook his head.

“I forbid it. It’s a hasty decision, Layla. I understand that being away from Samael for so long might have changed your feelings. But stay in Samael for now. Samael is changing. It’s not too late to make a decision after careful consideration.”

Layla suddenly let out a chuckle, as if something had welled up inside her.

“I’ve already made my decision. I’ve learned all too well that such optimistic thinking doesn’t help me in life. And I’ve also learned how much I’ve been living like a frog in a well.”

Blair interrupted.

“Layla!”

“What’s this insolence in front of the Clan Head!”

Layla calmed down and shook her head, saying,

“When leaving a clan, it’s customary to destroy all magic and the core learned from that clan. But I haven’t learned anything from Samael, so there’s nothing to destroy. Thank you.”

Kazen gazed intently into Layla’s eyes.

As their eyes met, Layla flinched for some reason.

“…”

Kazen asked again,

“I’ll ask again. Are you truly leaving the clan? Do you understand what that means?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Kazen’s gaze slowly shifted behind Layla.

The middle-aged man in the blue uniform, who had been standing in the corner, stepped forward.

He stopped at a suitable distance and looked directly at Kazen.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Clan Head. I am Bata, the External Affairs Manager of Urgon.”

Kazen met the middle-aged man’s eyes and tapped the armrest of his chair.

“The External Affairs Manager. Are you here because of Layla?”

“Layla will be joining the Urgon main clan’s magic division. She will be entering as an important figure, so I hope you won’t be too disappointed. It’s certainly not a bad thing for Layla herself either.”

Kazen’s eyebrows twitched.

“So, it’s already been decided?”

“It won’t be a bad thing for Samael either. You’re well aware that we, Urgon, have been keeping an eye on your clan. This incident can serve as an opportunity for Samael to signal its desire for a friendly relationship with Urgon.”

Bata’s purpose for accompanying Layla was clear. It wasn’t just any soldier who came with her; an External Affairs Manager held a position of considerable status. This was a subtle show of force.

Bata took out a certificate from his pocket and held it out.

“Although Urgon isn’t responsible for this, there’s still a matter of moral decency. We’ve prepared a small gift. It’s not a small amount from Samael’s perspective, so you’ll be satisfied.”

Kazen slowly descended from his seat and approached Bata.

“Take it back.”

Bata smiled faintly and replied,

“I understand your clan holds negative feelings towards Urgon. However, you need to see the situation clearly. Don’t you realize that every little action you take can be reported to the higher-ups?”

Kazen stopped right in front of Bata and took the certificate.

“You’ve thought this through carefully…”

Kazen tore the certificate in half and stared intently into Bata’s eyes.

“I already know Urgon’s intentions.”

Bata glared back at Kazen, about to say something, but then flinched and involuntarily stepped back.

“Leave.”

“…”

As Bata left the main hall in silence, he suddenly turned around, seemingly offended, and said,

“I was trying to avoid saying this, but…”

“…”

“There will be interesting news soon. Clan Head Kazen.”

The moment Bata turned away and Layla followed,

Kazen spoke softly,

“Layla, if you change your mind, let me know anytime.”

Layla paused for a brief moment.

Then, without any response, she followed Bata out.

* * *

It wasn’t that his physique had grown larger. His aura had changed.

Taylor looked at Kazen and became certain of it.

It was hard to explain, but the atmosphere surrounding the man himself had transformed.

The silence that briefly enveloped the main hall when he faced Urgon’s External Affairs Manager.

‘It wasn’t mana.’

If he had to compare it…

It was the sense of pressure one felt when facing someone powerful like the Vice Tower Master.

It was appropriate to say that the Patriarch’s aura was similar to that.

‘Solid.’

He didn’t understand it, but it was definitely true.

The Clan Head’s gaze.

It was as solid as a sturdy rock, as unwavering as a calm lake, and as deep as a profound abyss.

He didn’t panic when facing Layla and the External Affairs Manager, nor did he ask for reasons. He simply deduced the situation naturally and faced it calmly.

After organizing his thoughts during the prolonged silence, Taylor looked up at Kazen. Taylor’s eyes had also returned to their usual state.

“Could you tell us what happened in Khaoto?”

Kazen spoke calmly,

“Bayern has been eradicated. Dark Soul is gone too. Now Khaoto is just Khaoto.”

“Samael did that?”

“Yes.”

Taylor wasn’t surprised, as he had already guessed the situation while looking around Khaoto. His real curiosity lay elsewhere.

As if on cue, Blair asked the question for him.

“May I ask which mage from the Magic Tower came?”

If Bayern had been eradicated, it must have been with the full support of the Magic Tower.

Perhaps Samael had gained the power to completely break free from Urgon’s clutches.

However, Kazen shook his head with a smile.

“The Red Magic Tower no longer exists in Samael. Samael is just Samael.”

Blair’s eyes widened.

“I don’t quite understand. If Bayern was eradicated, there must have been help from the Magic Tower.”

Blair was about to mention Urgon backing Bayern but swallowed his words.

“There was no help from the Magic Tower. The Crazy Mage Squad did it.”

“The Crazy Mage Squad? What does that…”

“The Red Magic Tower is no longer in Samael.”

“Excuse me?”

“Samael is forging its own path.”

Kazen met the eyes of each person one by one, and finally, he gazed intently at Taylor and said,

“Just like your father used to say.”

At that moment, Taylor realized what Kazen was trying to convey.

It wasn’t some old, clichéd saying, nor was it a meaningless joke directed at those who had been away from Samael for a long time.

Samael had eradicated Bayern with its own power.

And the fact that there was no help from the Red Magic Tower meant…

“Then Urgon…”

As Blair unconsciously mentioned Urgon, Kazen smiled and dismissed them.

“You’ll find out eventually. Just as you’ve grown, a great wind has swept through Samael. It will take you some time to feel it. Take your time and look around.”

* * *

“Senior Brother.”

Blair, who had come out of the main hall, looked at Taylor with a complicated expression.

He couldn’t understand the Clan Head’s words.

It was even harder to accept because he was such a serious and sincere person.

“Does the Clan Head have some other hidden intention?”

However, Blair realized from Taylor’s expression that he felt the same way.

As they walked, Taylor kept shaking his head.

“It’s disconcerting.”

A 5-star mage.

Taylor had quickly built up his mana core to 5 stars, enough to rival even the disciples of renowned families.

He had also gained ample experience by overcoming the 3rd-level Demon Realm.

He had endured the hardships and believed that he could surely place Samael on solid ground in the future.

But why?

‘What was he in such a hurry for?’

This was not good news.

Perhaps, because the Clan Head and the elders had only been in Khaoto, they hadn’t properly grasped the situation outside.

Even the wisest people could make wrong decisions.

“…”

However, instead of despairing, Taylor encouraged himself inwardly.

He had already experienced and overcome countless setbacks in the Magic Tower and the Demon Realm.

No matter the situation,

Now that he had returned to Samael,

He would guide them in the right direction.

[TL/N: Bro has the Main Character Syndrome,Smh]

“Senior Brother.”

“…”

“Senior Brother?”

At Blair’s bewildered voice, Taylor turned his gaze to see massive rectangular marble foundations with pillar-like structures being built upon them.

“What’s that, Senior Brother?”

“Hmm.”

“The shape… it looks like a temple?”

Blair approached one of the pillars and carefully examined the inscription carved in the center, then frowned slightly.

“Ifrit?”

Ifrit… wasn’t that the name of the strange temple the Clan Head destroyed a long time ago?

“Why is this being built here?”

“I don’t know.”

“No, what kind of wind blew for the Clan Head to rebuild it…”

“He must have his reasons.”

Blair felt deflated by Taylor’s succinct answer.

He turned to look at Arin, but she didn’t seem to care either.

“Haaaah!”

“Eyah!”

Following the youthful shouts coming from somewhere, they found young children undergoing strange training in the secondary training hall.

They were probably the children learning magic…

Blair’s bewilderment turned into astonishment, and finally, he let out a hollow laugh.

“Incantations?”

Blair looked at Taylor, and this time, even Taylor’s eyes twitched.

“Are those young kids chanting incantations?”

“It seems so.”

If it were just one of them, it could be dismissed as mishearing, but since both of them heard it, their ears weren’t deceiving them.

Moreover, the person instructing the children was a familiar face.

“Elder Falcon?”

Elder Falcon, who was teaching the children, spotted the three of them and waved with a smile.

“Welcome back. I heard you finished your training successfully.”

“Ah, yes. We did.”

“As you can see, I’m busy with something here, so I couldn’t go out to greet you. Please understand. The other elders are also a bit busy these days, but you’ll see them soon.”

Blair, too astonished to even remember his manners, asked,

“But what are you doing right now…?”

“You haven’t heard yet? We’ve opened the clan’s doors. I’m temporarily training Samael’s apprentices, although it’s not much.”

“We’ve heard about it. But I was curious because it seemed like the children were chanting incantations…”

Elder Falcon finally clapped his hands and nodded.

“So that’s what you were curious about.”

“Incantations? I never imagined I’d hear incantations. And you’re teaching them directly…”

Interrupting Blair’s rambling, Taylor asked,

“Could you explain it to us?”

Elder Falcon shook his head, as if a thought had just occurred to him.

“Have you met Ruin?”

“Ruin?”

“Yes, it would be good to see Ruin first.”

The three of them tilted their heads. They had definitely heard the name before, but they couldn’t quite recall it.

As Taylor was about to ask Elder Falcon again, Blair muttered beside him,

“The wastrel? Are you talking about that good-for-nothing Ruin?”

Taylor finally remembered where he had heard the name.

It was a name he had completely forgotten in the depths of his memory.

The disgrace of Samael. The Clan Head’s sore spot.

“Why Ruin…”

Elder Falcon smiled knowingly and replied,

“He’s the leader of our Crazy Mage Squad.”

“The leader of the Crazy Mage Squad?”

Taylor suddenly recalled Kazen’s words about the Crazy Mage Squad eradicating Bayern.

“Go see Ruin first.”

———-